To give up or not to give up, that is the question

Walking around yesterday on campus and seeing students and staff with their foreheads marked, I was reminded that it was Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. A time of fasting, and a time of remembrance of the sacrifices that were made for us so that we can be here today. Although not Catholic, I have observed Lent before and have given up television (no tv for 40 days and 40 nights makes for some quiet evenings at home and lots of time for reading books).

Lent serves as a quiet reminder that we as humans are privy to lots of things in our everyday lives that are nice to haves but not necessary. This year, I pondered what I should give up for Lent. I tried giving up coffee one year and failed miserably and although I know I shouldn’t be drinking it everyday, it seems much more miserable to give up coffee than to not and the next 40 days would not be very fun.

Everyone that is close to me knows my obsession with dessert. I love sugar, I love carbs, I love sugar with carbs—none of which is good for my health in any which way. So naturally giving up a dessert would be the most obvious thing to do. Some of my co-workers have ambitiously given up all dessert. I could not be so valiant and have decided for Lent this year, I will give up cookies and muffins. Yes, seemingly innocuous treats to most people, cookies and muffins are dangerous food groups (see, I even classified it as a food group) for me as I can almost never decline either if it’s presented to me. Even worse, if I’m presented with a buffet of muffins or cookies, I’ll have the desire to sample them all. Today my co-worker brought in deliciously home baked cookies, they looked so delectable and tasty but alas for the next 40 days I will have to refrain from these yummy treats. A part of it’s great for my health, I am a ridiculous junkfoodaholic but a part of it is also great because each time I am confronted with the challenge and choose to decline, I will be reminded of sacrifices that were made for me and how my simple sacrifice is just a way of saying thanks.

At the end of the day, it comes down to choice. No one ever dictates to us what we have to consume or not consume both literally and figuratively and choice is ultimately the true gift that god sacrificed for us to have. In thinking about that, to give up or not to give up for the next 40 days, for me, there really is no question.